for 30 JUL 07: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED?

"Trust but verify," my Pastor said at church over the weekend. He was talking about rearing children, and quoting President Reagan's favorite Russian proverb (I didn't ask if he knew that last part). But one local group is showing it doesn't even trust local government - well, unless the officer wields a gavel and wears a robe.

The Education Park Coalition has filed suit, over the big agreement finalized earlier this month on land around the Columbus Public Library. It's a 75-page lawsuit -- so all those pages could be shredded into very nice mulch, for whatever "green" item winds up on that land.

It appeared the city of Columbus had a firm agreement with the Muscogee County School District and the Library Board for those 23 acres or so around the main library. But the Education Park Coalition's lawsuit wants the "memorandum of understanding" toughened, to have certain things guaranteed. Come to think of it, the cans of chili I just threw out had no guarantees on the labels. [True!]

The Education Park Coalition wants a court to guarantee those disputed 23 acres will be turned into landscaped greenspace. Leader Josh McKoon fears the memorandum of understanding has a loophole, allowing the Muscogee County Schools to sell their part of the land. As if businesses are clamoring to open along that part of Macon Road now?!

(In fact, if Josh McKoon needs any help with his lawsuit - why doesn't the city of Columbus put its midtown "Service Center" in Cross Country Plaza, instead of near the library? After all these years, I really don't think Service Merchandise is going to make a comeback.)

When the library land deal was approved two weeks ago, Muscogee County School Board President James Walker suggested there was no thought of selling the district's part of the property right now. But the Education Park Coalition clearly is skeptical about that. Why, it could change its mind faster than John Wells can run from a charging bull.

(At least one thing seems certain about the school district's share of the library land deal. I think it's pretty hard to build a Wal-Mart SuperCenter on seven or eight acres.)

City and school district officials warn the Education Park Coalition's lawsuit threatens to hold up other planned improvements around the central library. For instance, a new natatorium could be delayed - and imagine how all the overflowing pool water could help the nearby meadows grow.

As I thought about this lawsuit over the weekend, I wondered if it might have been filed too soon. Wouldn't the right time to make a court challenge be after library land actually is sold? After all, the Michael Vick picket signs didn't start appearing until after he was indicted.

A man told me the other day the Education Park Coalition should be careful about what it's wishing for. He said a park around the main library could become a hangout for gangs and criminals. Of course, the library has security guards - so maybe their uniforms should change to "landscape green," for doing undercover work.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now we KNOW we have a first - as we're getting replies to a restaurant critique, and the restaurant still hasn't officially opened! This one reached us first:

If my weak memory serves me correctly the CharBroil restaurant was started by two company employees who lost their jobs when CharBroil moved out of the country..Thanks for the review,I'll have to give it a go...An interesting idea ..Get restaurants to give you a meal in return for an honest review on the blog...You could have us readers review them,but then you never know when the restaurant owner is actually the reviewer..

Let's answer the question of journalistic ethics first. Sunday's e-mail came from someone who reads this blog, and writes us often. As far as we know, that person doesn't own the CharBroil restaurant. Given the praise of Ritz crackers, maybe that person owns Nabisco stock.

We're open to your comments about local restaurants, whether good or bad. So if you go to today's grand opening of the CharBroil restaurant and find the steaks aren't sufficiently blackened, please let us know.

I don't know who's actually operating the new CharBroil restaurant - but if former employees are doing it, I would think they'd have to pay W.C. Bradley for the use of the CharBroil name. You wouldn't want to anger a company which is skilled in making gas-fired products.

And speaking of restaurant reviews....

Richard, I was glad to read the review about the new CharBroil restaurant. Unfortunately, however, their prices will probably exclude some. The newspaper reported that the cheapest item on the menu would be hamburger at $9.95. Phenix City definitely needs some new good eateries!

And speaking of an area that needs new eating establishments - I was in South Columbus recently and decided to try the new Al's Schnitzel Gasthaus on Victory Dr. If you like good German good - don't bother to stop there. To begin with there is a strong odor in the place. It smells musty - like perhaps the roof has been leaking. (It is a very old building) When you pay your bill, the cash register is right in front of the kitchen. There is no wall and you get to look at the old equipment. The one employee takes your money, does the cooking, cleaning, etc. The place is very small and needs painting. And the food was not very good either. I have eaten at Al's on Warm Springs Rd several times in the past and it was not bad. This is sad news for those who live, work or visit the South Columbus/Victory Dr. area.

A musty odor and a leaky roof, eh?! Maybe this new German restaurant is seeking an authentic post-World War II atmosphere.

This may seem strange considering my last name, but I've never been a big fan of German cuisine. I wasn't thrilled by sauerkraut when I was a boy. And the weight-watching side of me tends to walk past German chocolate cake, for something without coconut in the icing -- as if coconuts grow in Germany, anyway.

. At least there's one bit of good news for diners along Victory Drive. Have you noticed that new state-of-the-art Burger King is about to open, near Fort Benning Road?

The person who originally wrote us about CharBroil on Sunday offered this P.S., based on our comments:

CharBroil grills of course and some of the employees as well....

So the new Phenix City restaurant will be authentic, in that way. But that $9.95 hamburger - will that start a price war with Applebee's down the highway, or only drive prices higher?

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